Red Cross in a peace time role

Index Home

While Red Cross was borne out of war, its National societies are engaged in various peace time health actions. These actions include first-aid, disaster relief, blood banking and a range of community health services. Today, in many countries Red Cross operates emergency response teams, contributes to relief efforts after natural and man-made disasters, runs blood-banks and also provides vaccination, maternal and child health care. Recent postage stamps about this organisation beautifully show its peace time role.

Disaster Relief and First Aid

There are various aspects of disaster relief. It includes immediate rescue and relief, followed by taking care of continual health needs. This is a team effort, and in all countries Red Cross supplements national or regional relief agencies.

A set of three stamps from Belgium (2003). These stamps show disaster relief at the top and first aid at the bottom.
We can see Relief and rescue in a three stamp set from Nicaragua (1983) and in a stamp from Yugoslavia (1983). Postage stamps from Kuwait (1981) and Iran (1984) on red-cross day depict the crescent symbol, and a stamp from Croatia (1993) depicts the Cross.

Disasters not only bring about injuries, but also food shortages and malnutrition. They disrupt normally functioning health systems. Since small children, pregnant mothers and elderly are most vulnerable in this situation, Red Cross societies contribute to these needs.

Postage stamps issued in 1988 on 125th Anniversary of Red Cross. We can see a rescue dog in postage stamp from Hungary (top left), maternal and child care in postage stamps from Gibraltar (in the centre), ambulance services in postage stamps from Austria (bottom centre) and St Lucia (top right). We can see distribution of food rations in a stamp from Nigeria (bottom right). Postage stamps from Indonesia, Germany and Soviet Union (bottom left) show Cross and crescent symbols.
125th Anniversary issue (1988) from Central Pacific Island nation Kiribati. Two of the stamps at the bottom show resuscitation and rescue.
Blood banking

Blood donation and transfusion was an integral part of war efforts. These experiences helped societies to set up blood banking services for the civilian populations. About 50 Red Cross societies across the world provide safe blood banking services. This is often an extension of relief and rescue efforts.

Postage stamps issued by Kenya, Tanzania and Sao Tome (1988) on 125 years of Red Cross. These stamps show rescue services, Ambulances, blood-transfusion and health education

In many countries national societies have made blood banking systems more efficient, especially in donor management and to address logistic issues in blood delivery. More recently, online applications have helped keep a record of donors, as well as available donated blood products across blood banks.

Red Cross 125th Anniversary issue (1988) from South Pacific Solomon Islands. Stamps show blood donation, physical therapy and rehabilitation, and child-welfare
Thai Red Cross Issue (2002) shows a blood donor on its first day cover, and a hospital on its postage stamp. Members of the royal family are depicted as patrons of Red Cross in a two stamp set (1999) on the right.
Care in communities

Red Cross societies are also engaged in primary care in the communities. This includes provision of dispensaries, and initial health care. Many societies have contributed to national immunisation programs, and care for the elderly.

Miniature sheet and a stamp from Norway-Somalia joint issue. It shows a primary care clinic
A set of four postage stamps from Norway (2015) Stamps depict remote health services, care for the elderly, and taking care of children. A nurse is seen in a postage stamp from Bosnia (2012) on left in lower row. A rescuer with a Red Cross hat is seen in a stamp from Belgium (2002) on right in lower row. Bottom centre stamp shows Prince Albert from Monaco (2022)
125th Anniversary postage stamps (1988) from Laos, Djibouti, and Bangladesh. Postage stamp from Burkina Faso is from 1985. Postage stamps from Laos show Red Cross workers engaged in Immunisation services, and taking care of the disabled. Stamp from Bangladesh has a blood-donor, and one from Burkina Faso depicts a personnel performing vascular doppler.

These community outreach activities bridge the gap, until national care delivery system effectively is able to take over. often these needs are in remote under privileged areas.

Agency issues North Korea highlights HIV care, and another from Sao Tome (2016), immunisation and child care.
A set of six postage stamps from North Korea (1980). Top left stamp shows caring for a child, and one stamp in the middle has children, as budding health workers.
Teaching and training

In some countries, Red Cross trains health care workers. Such as training may be in first-aid, and initial acute care management. This educational role often extends to communities.

Above set of postage stamps are 125th Anniversary issue from a South Pacific Island nation of Tuvalu (1988). The central miniature sheet, and stamps on the right on teaching and training activities. In bottom left, a health care worker is taking care of s disabled child. Top left stamp depicts Henry Dunant, founder of Red Cross.
Red Cross Miniature sheet and postage stamps from France (2021 and 2022). On the left (2021 issue) Red Cross personnel are engaged in distribution of food, counselling and vaccination. The 2022 issue on the right has a focus on human rights
Changing face of Red Cross stamps

As we leave wars and disasters behind, Red Cross postage stamps invoke fine arts. French red cross series is now more than 70 years old. The following panels show how the face of Red Cross philately has changed from wars to peace.

Architectural marvels on the cover sheet, and French doctors René-Nicolas Dufriche Desgenettes (1762-1837) and François-Joseph-Victor Broussais (1772-1838) in the postage stamps
First day covers of Red Cross issues from France (1979-1980).
Red Cross issues from France (1982-1987). These issues show various aspects of cultural creativity such as literature, sculptors, and paintings.

8 comments

  1. Beautiful collection of stamps. The one showing children as health care workers is touching . The work of peace time done by Red Cross is so useful to humanity. Being a blood banker I value it more.

  6. Very heartening to know the wide gamut of humanitarian services being provided by Red Cross globally.

  8. Sir it’s really amazing experience going through the history of stamps and congratulations Sir for such a good valuable collection of stamps Thanks for sharing this with all representing by stamps Thanks Sir

Comments are closed.